Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

Marcus Almeida, also known as “Buchecha” (or Bochecha), is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca who is one of the stars of the super and ultra heavyweight divisions of the sport. Before completing his twentieth birthday Buchecha was already revered as the “Next Big Thing” in grappling, a claim he confirmed with successive podium achievements in the black belt divisions, including a double win (weight and open weight division) at the 2012 , 2013 and 2014 world championship, having become in the process, only the second man to win 3 open weight world championships (the other being Roger Gracie), and the first to win 3 in a row.

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Marcos Vinicius Oliveira de Almeida

Nickname: “Buchecha”, or rather “Bochecha”, means cheek/big cheeks. Marcus’ instructor, Rodrigo Cavaca, nicknamed him Buchecha because when he first started training he was a bit overweight and his cheeks were prominent.

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida Biography

Marcus Almeida (192cm / 6’3″ tall) was born on the 8th of January, 1990, in a town called Sao Vicente close to Santos in the state of Sao Paulo. As a child Marcus wanted to be a football (soccer) player, but he was not very good at it by his own admission. He then turned his sights on Surfing a sport he practised from a young age.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu only came into “Buchecha’s” life in his mid teens. He was 14 years old when his sister first started training BJJ. Marcus’s father, Mr Cleiton Almeida, was very protective of his daughter, and started accompanying her to class. With time Mr Cleiton started practising himself, and from there it wasn’t long until he was dragging his son Marcus with him. Luckily young Marcus loved Jiu Jitsu from the start and started training every chance he could.

Marcus’s physical abilities helped by the masterful eye of his instructor, BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Cavaca, soon turned Buchecha into one of the most feared athletes in the lower belt divisions, and after successive wins in the “Brasileiro”, Pan American, Sao Paulo Cup, Scandinavian Open and “Mundial”, Almeida received his black belt (while on the podium after his win at the World Championship in 2010), not long after his father was also awarded his black belt in BJJ. He moved to the United States with his master and his team mate Thiago “Baiano” Aragao in 2010 where he confirmed he belonged in the major league of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, winning the World Nogi Tournament later that year, closing the bracket with his “Avengers” team mate, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu. After a short spell when he returned to his native Santos in 2011 with his master Cavaca, Buchecha came back to the United States where he started coaching and competing full time.

After this return to the United States (2012), Marcus Buchecha Almeida’s career as a black belt competitor took off to another level with a win in both his weight and the absolute category at the Pan American Championships as well as the World Jiu Jitsu Championships (both with IBJJF). He also fought in the legendary Roger Gracie at the Metamoris Pro Invitational, giving a great display of jiu jitsu, tying the match in submission only rules with the 10x world champion.

Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida Jiu Jitsu Record

List of Marcus Almeida’s fight results in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Wrestling, in the sport’s the most important tournaments since receiving his black belt.

I just got back into jiu jitsu and I’m happy to say I will be training under team checkmat. I had the opportunity to meet buchecha. Super nice guy and I’m happy to part of this team and increase my skills.

If you like Buchecha he is training at ACE Jiu-Jitsu in Fountain Valley, Ca ….acejiujitsu.com or call 714 964-4488… He is great to train with you should go by ACE I had a great time…. If I lived closer I would train there…